The decision on troop levels had been expected quite some time ago, and this week’s announcement that President Trump has decided to delegate the matter entirely to Defense Secretary James Mattis. This both sped up the process and meant a large escalation was likely, as Mattis has been reported to have favored plans with larger numbers of troops being sent.

The 4,000 troops will be in addition to 8,500 US troops already in Afghanistan, and the escalation is widely expected to also see other NATO member nations agree to commit more troops to the country, albeit much smaller deployments, and likely with less willingness than the US to send troops into combat situations.

Officially, the US combat operation in Afghanistan ended long ago, but increasingly the US is deploying ground troops into areas being contested militarily by the Taliban, desperate to slow the rate of territory loss the Afghan government is facing, and the addition deployments are likely to add to that policy.

Author: Jason Ditz

Because we’ve sunk into the Big Muddy up to our chest, and now we need more bodies to stand on.

Caesar_Saladin

…and the big fool says to push on.

Felonious Punk

Because the CIA needs to peddle more heroin.

Taras77

Evidently, they have the “strategy” all sorted out, as Mattis promised a congressional hearing on Tue of this week. (sarc) Mattis promised the strategy would be ready my mid-July (sic).

He said they did not have a strategy prior to this latest “surge” and blamed obama -duh

This has to contribute to the gag factor in many ways!

Dolores Anna Leech

looking after the poppy fields?

unam_sanctum

R.I.P., my condolences to their families.

Eileen Kuch

Donald J. Trump made a huge mistake in appointing Mad Dog Mattis Secretary of Defense (War). Not only was Mattis deeply involved with ex-CIA director David Petraeus, he’s a warmonger with NO knowledge of Afghan history.
NO foreign invaders – including the ancient Macedonians – were able to conquer Afghanistan. Why? First of all, Afghanistan has the most inhospitable terrain outside of the Himalayas and the fiercest warrior tribes in the world.
Savage Afghan tribes, the best guerrilla warriors ever, have driven every single foreign invader out (often inflicting severe casualties) with their surprise raids and disappearing back into their caves.
Only the US/UK forces remain, but they’ll never be able to conquer the inhospitable terrain in the countryside, no matter how many more troops are brought in. Mad Dog Mattis is an idiot, pure and simple .. He’s just using them as cannon fodder.

Caesar_Saladin

Donnie 2 Scoops has signed the death warrants of more than a few young American soldiers, I fear. Afghanistan is no place to fight a war, especially from halfway around the world.

Felonious Punk

“The military are dumb, stupid animals we use for foreign policy.” – Henry Kissinger